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Sweet Dreams

Regina remained frozen on her spot for a minute or two, shocked at all of what had just happened between her and Emma — the Dark One, she reminded herself. Though, it had not felt like it had been someone else but her Emma who had kissed and touched her in ways she'd only hoped to feel in her most secret dreams. Emma had been a sweet fruit forbidden to her, but now… Now she wasn't sure if it had been Regina who had always been the feast at the dinner and Emma the Darkness that longed to devour her. It had always seemed the other way.

Regina looked around her in the vault and noticed she was right beside the small bunk bed that had been witness to her sinful escapade with Robin and then with Maleficent, that night of alcohol and recklessness with the"Queens of Darkness."

Did Emma know? She had never told her. They were friends, but not the kind of friends who share details of their intimacy. Strange, wasn't it? Because she had no problem sharing them with Maleficent or maybe even Mary Margaret. But, Emma? Not a chance.

That night, Regina couldn't sleep. She kept feeling Emma's lips burning in her neck as if she still were kissing her; the caress of hands exploring her thighs and hips, and the beating of her heart accelerating. Soon she was reliving the scene in her dreams, wishing in this realm she could come to climax and get over with it, but it didn't happen. Emma still pulled away before her lips could touch hers and disappeared in her black smoke again. She had another dream after that one, but it didn't feel like a dream, it was more like a memory.

Regina was in her bedchambers, but these were not her chambers from the Enchanted Forest, nor her bedroom in Storybrooke, it was somewhere else. Camelot.

Regina was pacing before a big magical mirror in her bedchamber and in the reflection there stood Maleficent, with whom she was talking in the middle of the night after they'd found Emma lurking Regina's closet where she kept the dagger.

"I just don't know how to help her. I… I am in debt, and you know how much I hate feeling I owe someone," Regina was saying to her former Mistress.

"It's hardly indebted the way you feel about the Savior, Regina," Maleficent commented cleverly.

"What are you implying? I'm not in the mood for riddles. I've enough riddles with trying to harvest a wizard ripe from a tree," Regina responded angrily, a hand going protectively to her stomach as she continued pacing and evading Maleficent's scrutinizing stare.

"I haven't implied anything, dear, I'm stating the obvious. Which holds truth since you've suddenly become so... yappy."

"Just say what's on your mind, my dear Maleficent, don't beat around the bushes."

"Very well," Maleficent smirked. "I was merely pointing out this isn't about a debt. You care for her, Regina, and that much was obvious when we were together the last time."

"What? Don't be ridiculous. We… share a son — we both care for Henry, so, naturally, we had to develop some sort of… friendship. For Henry," Regina emphasized, "And when you and I were together that night, I was just… worried she might have followed us. We aren't exactly the quiet kind."

Maleficent chuckled at that. "No. You are not the quiet type, which I appreciate," she bit her bottom lip as she let her eyes rake down and up the brunette in her beautiful red gown. "But keep telling yourself that, darling. Maybe one day you'll even convince your heart it is Robin Hood whom you truly love."

"Mal..." Regina rolled her eyes.

"All I'm saying is: have you thought about kissing the darkness out of her? Although, I must say, you do quite love your women being on the darker side of the spectrum. Perhaps leave it as it is? Might make her all the more... savory."

"Enough! I'm not hearing more of this nonsense," Regina yelled to the mirror.

"Come on, little one, it was you who contacted me," Maleficent reminded her.

"You're right. Now I'd like to be left alone." Regina waved her hand and made the mirror vanish into purple smoke.

But then she heard a noise behind her door, noticed it was ajar. Someone had been peeking and she couldn't let them go. She couldn't have another confrontation like the one they had with Percival at the ball, which almost got Robin killed.

Regina knelt on the floor and put her hands where the spy had been standing, used her magic and made it reveal the path her stalker had taken. Red lines of magic began glowing on the floor and through the castle, drawing a path Regina proceeded to follow, guiding her to Emma's bedchamber up in a tower.

She knocked then, one, two, three times - no answer.

"You leave me no choice," Regina said to herself as she unlocked the door with her magic and opened it slowly to peek inside.

"Emma?" Regina called out softly. She took a step inside and then another.

Emma's bed seemed to still be neatly made, not a sign of Emma there.

There was a loud thud behind her and when Regina turned to look, the door had shut behind her. The air smelled of magic, dark, powerful magic, and Regina was sure whose it was. She stepped into the room, cautiously.

"How much did you hear?" Regina asked.

Emma had her back to her, facing a window that held several dream catchers hanging from it.

She walked closer to the center of the chamber, trying to slowly approach Emma.

Rumplestiltskin's voice then echoed in Emma's head.

"She doesn't want to help you. It's your time now; help yourself. Leave her locked here and go take what's yours."

"No. She cares about me," Emma responded feebly.

"Don't be a fool. Didn't you hear her? She only stands you because of that son you are forced to share. There's nothing else. Not for you. Ever."

"Stop! Leave me alone!" Emma screamed as she covered her ears to try to mute the voice.

"Emma, please, I need to talk to you," Regina took another step closer.

"Just a wiggle of your nose and the Queen could be toast," Rumplestiltskin was giggling. "Go get your freedom. Get the dagger."

"I can't do this," Emma continued talking with the darkness.

"Emma don't listen to that voice, let me help you," Regina reached a hand and gently put it over Emma's right shoulder.

"Now's the moment, dearie, trrrap her," Rumplestiltskin kept pushing.

"You…" Emma turned around in a quick movement, her eyes glowing with magic as she looked menacingly at Regina, clawing at the wrist from the hand that had dared touch her.

"Emma?" Regina looked with pain and worry at her. "It's me."

"Do it. Rip her heart out and crrrush it. You can be unstoppable. You can be free. If you. Just. Kill. Her."

"No!" Emma closed her eyes to stop seeing him and pulled Regina into her arms, holding onto her tightly. "I don't want to hurt you," she sobbed into Regina's hair.

"It's okay, Emma," Regina tried to calm her, but she was in as much shock because this was the first time she and Emma were ever this close—in an embrace, nothing less, and it made her heart race inside her chest, warmth spreading through her body like liquid magic, a feeling indescribable.

When Emma looked from Regina's shoulder to behind her and around the room, she noticed the presence of the darkness had gone. Rumplestiltskin was gone.

"Regina, please don't leave me," Emma was desperate.

Emma's plea made Regina feel another wave of warmth inside her.

"I won't leave your side, Emma, if that's what you want me to do. I will… get your back, like you did mine," she smiled warmly a she lovingly run her fingers through golden curls.

Emma nodded and nestled her face in the soft curve between Regina's neck and shoulder. It was the most natural feeling, being in this position, so natural it escaped both of them.

"So warm," Emma mumbled.

"Hmn?" Regina hummed confusedly and then they both noticed they were still holding in an embrace, standing before the dream catchers' window as the moonlight bathed their bodies, casting only one shadow, the one of them together.

It was awkward but none of them was making the first move to separate, self-aware, but hesitant to make it too obvious. It was odd how soothing this felt. Being close. Being together.

"Ever after the darkness was tethered to me, I've been feeling cold. But you feel so warm, it's just strange."

"Oh, sorry," Regina broke the hug then, misunderstanding what Emma meant. "If you feel better, let me know if you want me to leave."

"No!" Emma replied instantly, startling Regina a little. "I didn't mean a bad strange… just… a nice kind of strange. It felt comfortable. Safe."

"So… want me to stay?"

"Please."

They gazed into each other's eyes for a moment, then Emma got nervously into her bed. She got under the covers and Regina pulled a chair beside her to keep watch while she slept. It was uncomfortable- the chair, not this. This was more... awkward, but at the same time it felt so good to be caring for Emma in her sickness, it reminded her of when Henry had a fever and she wouldn't leave his side. But this wasn't Henry; it was Emma, and that made it feel different—special, and she enjoyed this more than she would openly admit. Caring for Emma felt so familiar in a different way.

Emma was shaking despite the many covers in her bed. Regina had even covered her with her baby blanket she brought across realm, but nothing helped ease the cold in Emma. When she finally appeared to be sleeping, Regina placed a tentative hand on her forehead to check her temperature. She was still cold and Regina went to make the hearth much warmer with her magic.

Emma's raspy voice made her turn from the hearth back to her.

"You and Maleficent?"

"That was a long time ago," Regina responded nervously. "Go back to rest."

"A month ago is not a long time by my book," Emma pushed some of the covers away so she could see Regina better, sitting upright.

"Excuse me?" Regina swallowed hard, fidgeting with her hands.

"I knew you were hiding something, just never expected that you two were… involved."

"Well, forgive me if I don't like talking about my sex life with you."

"Yeah, it's better if I don't know," Emma's tone was sharp now, like she was angry. Maybe even jealous?

"Are you offended? You were the one spying; I'm the one who should feel offended."

"I wasn't spying on you! I was… just… Look, the dagger called for me, okay."

"And you just had to stay and listen to my private conversation," Regina crossed her arms over her chest.

"I couldn't help eavesdropping. You were talking about me so…" Emma was nervous now, but more energetic.

"I see you're feeling much better, Swan, maybe be we can call it a night. I'm going to my own bedchambers," Regina turned her back to her and was about to vanish when Emma's question stopped her.

"Do you care about me?"

Regina swallowed nervously. "Miss Swan—"

"And don't give me your back. Turn around so I can see you."

"Seriously?" Regina sighed, but still turned around. "I… care about my son's happiness, and that means you being back to your regular self. So, yes, I suppose I may care about you to some degree."

Emma raised an "are you fucking kidding me" eyebrow, but then the voice was back.

"I told you," Rumplestiltskin sneered. "She only cares about her own happy ending."

Emma's eyes suddenly turned to lock on something in the distance, on something Regina couldn't see.

"Emma?" Regina worried.

Emma tried to cover her ears to stop hearing it, but it was helpless.

"And that, dearie, we both know does not include you," he sing-sang.

"I don't care!" Emma yelled. "Go away! Go away, Regina!"

"I'm not leaving you like this," Regina ran to bed but didn't know what to do.

"I will get used to it — to the voice. Now leave me alone!" Emma insisted, directing it at both presences.

Regina surrounded her with her arms and held on tightly. "No, I won't."

"Why, if it's clear you don't care about me!" Emma responded between strangled sobs.

"Because, you're right, I don't care about you. I LOVE YOU!" Regina surprised even herself with the confession.

Emma stopped struggling inside her arms and looked for Regina's eyes to confirm she wasn't lying with so much hope for assurance.

"Don't do that! I hate your stupid super power," Regina brought her hands to her face to hide her embarrassment.

Emma still looked at her, brought her own hands to delicately remove Regina's so she could see her flushed face.

"I love you, too," she gave Regina a beautiful, bright smile, framed by happy tears coming down from green eyes.

"Are you sure? This is insane," Regina was incredulous but hopeful.

"It's clear as day. Why else would I have protected you from the darkness? All I want is for you to be happy," Emma admitted, weeping, "even if it's not with me."

"Emma…"

Regina cupped her face in her hands and brushed away the tears with her thumbs. She looked deeply into her eyes as Emma's lips parted slightly in awe. But as she was leaning closer, the door suddenly broke open and Hook entered, fuming, and he got even more furious when he saw Regina in bed with Emma so close, and it was obvious Emma had been crying.

"I knew you wouldn't keep your hands to yourself for long, you bloody witch! What perverted hex do you have her on?" He demanded an answer.

"None!" Regina was just as surprised as she was angry.

"Killian, it's not what you think," Emma tried to calm him.

"No! Love, you have to stop defending her, it's insane. She's sick, but I won't let her bewitch you the way she did her wenches!" Hook insisted.

"You're crossing a line you would much rather not, Captain." Regina warned him. "The only reason I haven't killed you is because of Emma."

With the yelling and arguing, they brought more attention to the tower and soon Robin and Snow and David had come, too, to check on Emma. Emma continued trying to make Hook calm down, but he was too angry to listen and eventually left the room to go take some fresh air. He was sure Regina had cast a spell on her, that would explain why his kiss didn't break the curse on Emma.

Regina went to Robin's side, but before joining him, she sadly whispered to Emma as she passed her.

"I told you it was insane." She continued moving.

"Are you alright, my love?" Robin Hood asked Regina.

"Yes. I'm fine," she responded tiredly.

"I'm glad to hear that. Let's go."

Robin then leaned in for a kiss and Regina hesitated a little, feeling Emma's eyes on them, but she still gave him the kiss. She couldn't let the drama grow bigger, or any of their hopes higher. Robin was after all her fated soulmate. She and Emma… that was not possible. It wasn't even logical.

David and Snow stayed with Emma for the rest of the night, but she wouldn't tell them why she was weeping. She begged them to leave her alone but they wouldn't, and the next day they convinced Regina to give Arthur the dagger. Maybe with Excalibur he could save Emma: it was her best chance.

Regina woke up abruptly, lit the lamp on her bedside and when she looked around her, she was stunned to find her room full of black roses. She got up from bed and walked toward the biggest floral arrangement on her vanity, picked the small card on it and read the message.

"My gift to you are these memories."

Emma.